John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, be-cause their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
A small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness to the stand in a trial---a grandmotherly, elderly woman. He approached her and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know me?"
She responded, "Why, yes, I do know you Mr. Williams. I’ve known you since you were a young boy. And frankly, you’ve been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you’re a rising big shot when you haven’t the brains to realize you never will amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you."
The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do he pointed across the room and asked, "Mrs. Williams, do you know the defense attorney?"
She again replied, "Why, yes I do. I’ve known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. I used to baby sit him for his parents. And he, too, has been a real disappointment to me. He’s lazy, bigoted, and he has a drinking problem. The man can’t build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the shoddiest in the entire state. Yes, I know him."
At this point, the judge rapped the courtroom to silence and called both counselors to the bench. In a very quiet voice, he said with menace, "If either of you asks her if she knows me, you’ll be jailed for contempt!"
Jesus said in verse 19 (And this is the condemnation)
The dictionary defines condemnation - the condition of being strongly disapproved of; "he deserved nothing but con-demnation"
We don't like hearing that we are disapproved of. We don't like it when someone judges us. But, Jesus is saying, this is the judgment, that when I came into to the world men didn't like it because, I can see right through them and they are condemned before God.
Jesus is the light of the world and His light can see right through you and me. He can see our sin, our defects that only deserve death before God.
We serve a righteous and holy God and we could never please Him because of our sin. But, just a couple of verses before that in John 3: 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
God loves us and Jesus is saying, that God sent Him not to condemn us because, we have been judged by God and found guilty. But, if we believe that He came to save us and not condemn us and ask Him into our life then, we will have eternal life. But, if we don't believe that, we are condemned. We have already been judged and found guilty.
How about you?
Love in Christ Jesus, Ronnie Miller
www.themillersbiblestudy.com
